Group Launches Campaign to Keep Mexico’s Current Consul In L.A.

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November 15, 2012 @ 12:23 pm
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While many if not most Angelenos have given little thought to the results of Mexico’s election last July, a group of local leaders and activists announced last week that they have launched a campaign to keep David Figueroa Ortega, the current Consul General of Mexico, in Los Angeles after Mexico’s new president takes office in December.

On Nov. 9, board members of the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles (MCI), located at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument/ Olvera Street, and other organizations sent a letter to President-Elect Enrique Peña Nieto and his transition team, “respectfully” asking that he consider allowing Figueroa to remain in his post in Los Angeles under the new administration.

Outgoing President Felipe Calderón appointed Figueroa to the position in March 2011; Mexican presidents only serve one 6-year term in office and typically, all political appointments end when the appointing president leaves office.

The group praises Figueroa’s performance in their letter to Mexico’s next president.

“As Mexican activists and leaders for decades in this metropolis, we make this petition because we believe that Consul Figueroa would be a great resource to management in this city, the second Mexican capital, and because his work during the nearly two years has been impressive,” the letter, written in Spanish, states.

“In a short time, the tireless Consul Figueroa has earned the appreciation and the support of our community for his dedication, commitment to the needs of Mexicans and his transparency. Therefore, we believe that removing him would reverse his achievements, stop the pace of activities that have marked his leadership and endanger projects he has driven,” the letter also states.

In conclusion, the activist state that the letter marks the start of their campaign to support Figueroa. Because Mexicans in Los Angeles makeup more than half of the city’s entire population, they anticipate many more organizations, political leaders and Mexican nationals will join them in supporting Figueroa.

The previous Mexican Consul General in Los Angeles was Juan Marcos Gutierrez Gonzalez, who left the post when he was promoted to Acting Interior Minister of Mexico. The post was occupied for six months by Juan Carlos Mendoza.